Some downtown Winston-Salem streets will be closed Monday evening due to a protest march during a federal lawsuit trial regarding the state's new voting laws.

The North Carolina NAACP Mass Moral Monday March for Voting Rights is scheduled to take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginning and ending at Corpening Plaza. A rally is also scheduled to take place on Corpening Plaza.

The march will take place along First Street, Second Street, Cherry Street, Fourth Street and Main Street. Cross streets within the march area will also be closed, city officials said.

Traffic exiting Business 40 onto Cherry Street and Main Street will also be affected. Streets will be reopened as soon as marchers pass by the various streets.

Winston-Salem police estimate 2,000 people are expected to attend the march and rally, with many participants coming from outside Winston-Salem.

State lawmakers passed the voting laws in question in 2013 and recently relaxed the voter ID requirements. However, the law still reduces the number of early voting days, prohibits same-day registration during early voting and stops counting election day ballots cast in the wrong precincts.

Opponents argue the new laws discourage minorities from voting. State officials defending the law pointed out to the Associated Press that black voter participation increased during the 2014 elections.

Other NAACP Moral Monday protests have taken place during General Assembly sessions in Raleigh.

Get extensive coverage of Monday's events on WXII 12 News, WXII12.com and the WXII News app.